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Driver’s License |
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<
www.dla.go.kr > |
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Holders of an international driver’s license |
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- Foreigners who have a driver's license issued in their countries can drive in Korea with an International Driving Permit (IDP) for one year. In this case, one's driver's license issued in his/her country shall be a valid one.
- Once a foreigner has obtained an Alien Registration Card in Korea, which means he/she is a legal resident of Korea, it is strongly advisable to convert his/her driver's license to a Korean driver's license, since the purpose of the International Driving Permit is to allow people to drive in foreign countries where they are not residing.
Driver's license test for foreigners
- Bring your country's driver's license.
- You can take a test in English, Chinese, Japanese, German, or French. The test is multiple choice and has 20 questions.
- Test preparation books can be purchased in English or Chinese at Driver 's License Examination Offices.
- Refer to the homepage of the Driver's License Agency < www.dla.go.kr > for test details in Japanese, German, or French. |
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Converting another country’s driver’s license |
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Foreigners who have the driver's license issued by authorized foreign agencies shall change his/her driver's licenses to Korean driver's licenses for driving in Korea. |
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Required documents
- A driver’s license issued in the country of the driver’s nationality,
passport or alien registration card, seal (signature is possible), and three
photos (3×4 inches).
- The passport must prove that the person was in his or her country whe
nhe/she obtained the driver’s license. |
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- Notary of a translation (except
for English) of the person’s driver’s license issued in his or her own
country and an Embassy confirmation letter (not needed for those who got
his or her driver’s license in the U.S., England, France, Canada, Germany,
Japan, and Spain.)
- When a person’s driver’s license does not indicate the issuance date,
a certification letter indicating the issuing date of the driver’s license
is needed.
Fees
- Application fee: 5,000 won
- Physical examination: 5,000 won
A Korean who has a foreign nationality should
have proof of a residency card.
A Korean who has a legal resident card of a foreign country should have
proof of the residency card showing his or her Korean nationality, or
an overseas Korean residency card.
These documents must be presented in person, not through an agent. |
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Acquiring a Korean license for those with no
valid license |
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(Procedures are the same for
Korean applicants)
- Qualifications: Lived in Korea for more than 6 months
- Application/Issuance: At 26 driver’s license test sites across the country
- Test languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Chinese
- Application fee: 4,000 won Physical examination fee: 5,000won
- Expiration date: 7 years (For holders of Class I driver’s license 65
years of age or older, renewal is mandatory every 5 years.)
- Required documents: Passport or alien registration card and four photos
By undergoing a physical at a hospital
registered with the Driver’s License Agency, an agent may apply for a
Korean driver’s license on your behalf by presenting the form attached
to the results of the physical test. |
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Reissuance of a lost driver’s license |
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.Reissuance: At 26 driver’s
license test sites across the country or the License Section of the National
Police Station
.Duplicates
- Damaged license: Submit the damaged license when applying.
- Lost license: Report it and apply for a new license at the same time.
Driver’s license duplicate: May be obtained
on the same day at the Driver ’s License Agency and within 20 days when
applying for a duplicate at the police station.
.Required documents:
- Duplicating a lost driver’s license
·Alien registration card and passport picture for application
·Picture required when applying for a temporary driver’s license
at the police station
·Alien registration card, passport, or public official card required
when picking up the license
- Duplicating a damaged driver’s license
·ID card and a passport picture required for application
·ID card, passport, or public official card required when picking
up the license
.Fee: 5,000 won |
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Driver’s license test sites |
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English translation service is
available only at the Driver’s License Agency in Seoul.
.Driver’s License Examination Offices
Driver's License Agency
Tel. 02-374-0393~5 Fax. 02-374-0080
Gangnam
Tel. 02-555-0831 Fax. 02-561-6029
Dobong
Tel. 02-934-7000 Fax. 02-938-9187
Gangseo
Tel. 02-666-4500 Fax. 02-666-9036
Seobu
Tel. 02-374-6811 Fax. 02-374-6344
Incheon
Tel. 032-811-0518 Fax. 032-822-5118
Yongin
Tel. 031-282-7714 Fax. 031-282-7713
Ansan
Tel. 031-486-4002 Fax. 031-486-4007
Uijeongbu
Tel. 031-847-4141 Fax. 031-847-6336 |
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Buying & Registering a Car |
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Registering a new vehicle |
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- It is convenient you to let the
car dealership register the car you purchased.
- According to the automobile maintenance law, a car dealership should register
a vehicle on behalf of a buyer without charge at the request of the buyer.
(If a dealership does not provide this service, the dealership must pay
100,000 won or less as a penalty.) |
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Required documents |
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.Application for registration
.Permission to drive the vehicle temporarily and temporary tag number
.Vehicle certificateor import documentation
.Inspection sticker
.Certified copy of alien registration card and passport
.Proof of vehicle liability insurance
- Registration fee receipt
- Ownership certificate (if you cannot prove ownership with the vehicle
cetificate)
※ Permission to temporarily drive the vehicle
- Must have a proof of permission to temporarily drive the vehicle and
tag.
- If you drive past the temporary driving period, you may have to pay 100,000
won or less as a penalty.
- Apply for registration within ten days of the beginning of the temporary
driving period. |
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Registering an imported vehicle |
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- Imported vehicle certificate
or proof of the imported vehicle
- Certified copy of a alien registration card and passport
- Ownership certificate if you cannot prove ownership with the imported vehicle
certificate
- Permit for temporary driving and temporary tag number
- Proof of vehicle liability insurance and application for registration
- Registration fee receipt and government securities purchase certificate
- Noise and pollution inspection certificate |
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Registering a used car |
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.Registration for a used vehicle
- Required documents: vehicle registration certificate, proof of vehicle
tax payment
- Korean residents abroad or foreigners must apply at the registration office
(or gu office of his/her residence) in person with their foreign registration
card and signed copies of sales contract.
.Tips for purchasing a used vehicle
- Confirm that the car is not mortgaged by checking the original automobile
registration at the appropriate Traffic Administration Section of the gu
office.
- Confirm that the owner does not have outstanding payment installments
or taxes on the vehicle. Tax status can be checked at the Car Registration
Section of the gu office.
- Conduct a test drive and check the condition of the vehicle carefully.
- Clarify a closing date and expected delivery date in the contract.
- Request that the seller explain the vehicle’s condition.
.Buyer’s duty for registration
Obtain the car registration certificate from the previous owner (the certificate
of car inspection), the certificate of transfer, and the certificate of
the owner’s registered seal impression to register the transfer of car ownership.
If you fail to register the transfer within 15 days of the purchase of the
car, you will be fined 500,000 won.
.Required documents
- Car registration certificate
- Used car transfer contract (the legal form for the certificate of transfer)
and alien registration card (or a certificate of alien registration). For
foreigners who have not yet acquired an alien registration card, two Korean
sponsors and a certificate of entry are necessary.
- Certificate showing that liability insurance is in effect and that public
bonds have been purchased |
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Reporting change of address |
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.If you change your place of residence,
you should take your car registration certificate as well as driver’s license
to a gu office so the change can be recorded. (If you are moving from another
city or province, you have to turn in your previous license plate and obtain
a new one.)
.If you fail to register your new address within 14 days, you will be fined
30,000 won. |
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How to dispose of a car |
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.Cars can be disposed of at a
yard handling junked cars. (If a vehicle requires cancellation of a previous
registration, it should be scrapped before applying for cancellation.)
.Stop by a licensed auto junkyard to request that a vehicle be scrapped.
(There is no fee for this. The junkyard should pay you for iron scraps.)
.Required documents for scrapping a vehicle
- a copy of a vehicle registration certificate
- a copy of the vehicle’s original
registration issued within the last three days
- a certificate of ownership with the owner’s seal impression (When applying
to scrap a vehicle, you must present an alien registration card). |
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Collateral or seized vehicles |
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.You cannot scrap a vehicle
under collateral or seizure until all debt related the vehicle has been
cleared.
.When a vehicle’s original registration shows that a vehicle is under
collateral, visit a registration office with documents needed for its
cancellation.
.Required documents for cancellation of collateral
- A mortgage holder’s alien registration card, contract for collateral,
and collateral cancellation certificate
- Under the automobile maintenance law, a licensed auto junkyard can take
care of the registration for cancellation within one month except in the
case that a vehicle owner has applied for cancellation on his own.
When a vehicle owner doesn ’t scrap his
or her vehicle through a licensed auto junkyard, he or she may face a
100,000 won fine or less or imprisonment of up to year. |
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 Major
car dealers
New Car Dealers
Visit a car dealership to purchase a new car.
- KIA Motors < www.kiamotors.com
>
- Hyundai Motor Company< worldwide.hyundai-motor.com
>
- GM Daewoo < www.gmdat.com
>
- Renault Samsung Motors
< www.renaultsamsungm.com
>
- Mercedes Benz
< www.mercedes-benz.com
>
- BMW < www.bmw.co.kr
> |
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Used Car Dealers |
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Used Car Markets in Seoul
- Janghanpyeong Automobile Trading Market < www.jauto.co.kr >
Tel. 02-2248-9809
- Yeongdeungpo Automobile Trading Market Tel. 02-671-8866
- Gangnam Automobile Trading Market < www.comcha.com> Tel. 02-555-2141 |
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Foreign Automobile Insurance |
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What is foreign auto insurance? |
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.To indemnify the insured for
all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damage
because of bodily injury, property damage, own bodily injury, own damage,
uninsured automobile sustained by any person, caused by accident and arising
out of the ownership, maintenance or use of the automobile. |
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Who can be insured? |
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.Foreigners(citizens/SOFA/military/
diplomats /consulates, etc.), foreign corporations
.Foreign joint-venture companies |
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Coverage |
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Classification |
Coverage |
Own damage |
Comprehensive |
Liability |
Collision |
Compulsory |
CALI |
Bodily lnjury liabilty |
Bodily injury |
Property damage liabilty |
Property damage |
Own bodily injury |
Own bodily injury |
Uninsured automobile |
Uninsured automobile |
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- Minimum Premium = US $ 30.00 (per policy)
- Full Coverage D/C = 10% (In case talking out own damage & liability coverage at the same time)
- Source: AIG Foreign Automobile Ins. < www.aiggeneral.co.kr > |
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Major Non-life Insurance Companies |
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Traffic Regulations |
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Important information on traffic regulations |
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.Speed limits (Clause 15)
- Ordinary roads: 60 km/hr
(over 4-lane roads: 80 km/hr)
- Motorways: 30~90 km/hr
- Do not exceed the speed indicated on traffic signs.
- Highways
· Four-lane highway: 50~100 km/hr
· Two-lane highway: 40~80 km/hr
· Reduce speed by 20% during rain or snow.
.Safety belt: Safety belts should be worn by all passengers when
the vehicle is in motion. Failure to comply will result in a fine of 30,000
won.
.Cellular phone ban: According to traffic laws, a driver cannot use
a cellular phone while driving, unless using a “hands-free”set. Breaking
this law will incur a fine. |
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Bus lane |
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The bus lane system gives priority
to public transportation on the road in response to traffic congestion during
rush hour and as a way to encourage people to use public transportation. |
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Drinking and Driving (Clause 41) |
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* Driving while intoxicated (a blood alcohol level of over 0.05 percent) is punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 3 million won.
* Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05~0.35 percent is punishable by law, and those with over 0.36 percent are arrested and detained. Those who have been apprehended for drinking and driving three times before are also detained.
* Administrative penalties:
- Those with a blood alcohol level of 0.05~0.09 percent will have their license suspended for 100 days.
- Those found with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.10 percent or more than 0.05% when involved in an accident resulting in loss of life will have their license revoked. Drivers who refuse an alcohol level test face cancellation of their license. |
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Traffic Accidents |
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When an accident involves a minor collision, drivers are advised to settle the issue at the time of the accident in order to avoid an increase in insurance premiums. Foreign drivers are also advised to carry phone numbers of Korean colleagues, a lawyer, and their embassy.
It is important to carry a disposable camera to record the scene of any accident you are involved in.
If an accident occurs, the driver should immediately pull the car over to the side of the road at or near the accident site.If you do not stop, you will most probably be considered a hit-and-run driver.
Taking Care of the Injured
If the injury sustained is not serious, take the person to a nearby hospital.
If the injury is serious with heavy bleeding, you should try to stop the
bleeding and get help from a passing vehicle or an ambulance to take the
person to a nearby hospital.
To call an ambulance, dial 119 (not 911). No area code is needed.
Recording and Maintaining Evidence of the Accident
It is recommended that you always keep a disposable camera in your car.
The configuration of vehicles involved in an accident should not be changed
unless they are blocking traffic, or if moving the vehicles is absolutely
necessary for other reasons. If the vehicles involved in the accident have
to be moved, their positions should be marked by spray paint, white chalk
or nails.
Warn Passing Vehicles
To prevent a second accident, you should use a flag, light, or sign to warn
approaching vehicles of the accident.
Reporting the Accident to Police by Calling 112
You are required to report the accident to the police within 3 hours in
a city and 12 hours in other areas. You can go to the police station, call
the police, or have another person call the police.
Notifying a Vehicle Insurance Company of an Accident
Notify your vehicle insurance company immediately of an accident, including
the date and place of the accident, the degree of damage, circumstances
of the accident, evidence, and eye witnesses.
Consult the insurance company to avoid incurring undue responsibilities
or penalties such as those stemming from destruction of evidence.
- Exchange contact numbers with the wrongdoer or the victim.
- Call the police office to resolve the situation.
- When a mutual agreement has been made between the wrongdoer and the victim,
this agreement should be retained in writing in case it is needed in the
future.
- The wrongdoer and victim should be civil throughout the process of resolving
the accident.
- If an accident is reported to an insurance company or a police office,
pick-up service is available. If
you cause a traffic accident, you will generally be free from criminal
charges if you have comprehensive insurance coverage. However, as stipulated
in the special law regulating traffic accidents, this is not the case
when the accident involves the following situations:
1. Violating a traffic signal
2. Crossing the median line
3. Speeding
4. Illegal passing
5. Improper passing through a crossing
6. Violation of a pedestrian crosswalk
7. Driving without a driver’s license
8.Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs
9. Starting a vehicle while the door is open
10. Driving onto the sidewalk
11. Hit-and-run accident
12. Fatality |
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Emergency vehicle service (general information) |
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.Free battery recharge service
is available when a vehicle runs out of battery.
.Free service for locking oneself out of his car
.Free emergency gas recharge service:
Obtain three liters of gas when a vehicle runs out of gas on the road. A
vehicle using light-oil or LPG is not included in this service.
.Free tire exchange service: A vehicle may obtain an emergency spare if
flat tire occurs. |
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When a vehicle is towed for illegal parking |
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.Inquire about the towed vehicle
- Seoul Metropolitan Installation Management Corporation <
www.sisul.or.kr >
·Rule for towing: A police office can tow a vehicle when it is illegally
parked under clause 28, 28, 30, or 31 under the traffic law
·How to recover a towed vehicle: Visit a tow site with a driver’s
license and a foreigner registration card. Pay a tow fee and a tow lot fee.
A tow lot fee is at most 500,000 won regardless of the type of vehicle.
Appealing a fine |
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Type |
Fine |
Passenger car, a freight car weighing 4 tons or more,
special vehicle, and construction vehicle |
50,000 won |
Passenger car and a freight car weighing less than 4 tons |
40,000 won |
When you receive a bill for negligence in paying a fine, this can be paid at a bank or the gu office at which your car was cited.
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- Towing and storage centers
Hongje Towing and Storage Center
Tel. 02-395-3173, 395-5802
Hongje Station, Line 3
Chang-dong
Tel. 02-990-9412~3, 2290-6325
Chang-dong Station, Line 1 or 4
Dobong
Tel. 02-2293-6326, 761-1003
Dobongsan Station, Line 1 or 7
Yeouido
Tel. 02-783-2467, 761-1003
Yeouinaru Station, Line 5
"Automatic Response Service"for towed vehicles: Call 02-2290-6300~5 (ARS) to locate your towed vehicle, directions on how to claim your vehicle, and the location of the towing company. |
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Road Signs |
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